Mutual funds (MFs) - flush with cash amid record inflows in July - invested heavily in the Rs 25,000-crore qualified institutional placement (QIP) of India's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI). Fund managers acquired SBI shares worth Rs 10,200 crore last month, making the lender their biggest buy in July.
Ask rediffGURU and PF and MF expert Janak Patel your mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
The domestic initial public offering (IPO) market is experiencing a significant surge, fuelled by the financialisation of savings, digital ease of investing, and expanding participation from both retail and institutional investors, investment bankers said on Wednesday.
The mutual fund (MF) industry is set to approach the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for relaxation in the recently implemented rules designed to prevent market abuse. According to MF executives, the new rules that came into effect in November for large schemes have created operational challenges for fund managers, particularly when executing large transactions or participating in block deals.
With the RBI infusing Rs 7.5 lakh crore in liquidity -- and possibly more in the future -- the short- to medium-term corporate bond market is expected to benefit.
Returns of liquid funds are meant only for the short term and don't help investors create wealth over the long term, as equity funds do.
Inflows into sector and thematic (S&T) funds fell sharply from around 5,711.6 crore in February 2025 to about 170.1 crore in March 2025 - a decline of 97 per cent. With many such funds underperforming, investors need to assess whether to remain invested or exit.
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Inflows into equity mutual fund (MF) schemes declined for a fourth consecutive month in April, even as systematic investment plan (SIP) inflows reached a record high of about Rs 26,632 crore.
In India, index funds are found wanting in both aspects -- long-term performance and cost efficiencies.
MMFs invest in fixed-income instruments maturing in less than one year, minimising interest-rate risk.
Stock market is gearing up for an eventful week ahead where key triggers such as quarterly earnings from corporates, the US Fed interest rate decision and the upcoming Union Budget for 2026-27 would grab the limelight, analysts said.
The ratio of MF assets under management to total bank deposits has more than doubled in 10 years.
The improving outlook for the power sector has caught the interest of dividend yield funds. In the first four months of the current financial year (2023-24, or FY24), five of the six largest dividend yield funds have shown a notable increase in their exposure to stocks within the power sector. Some have even introduced new stocks to their portfolios.
This marks a rebound after more than two years of underperformance during a strong rally in smallcap stocks.
'Increasingly, they treat gold as a financial asset in their portfolio rather than just as jewellery.'
Mid-cap and small-cap mutual fund schemes have continued to attract strong investor interest, garnering nearly Rs 30,350 crore in inflows during the April-September period of the current financial year, driven by impressive returns delivered by these segments. In comparison, the cumulative inflow into mid-cap and small-cap funds stood at Rs 32,924 crore during the same period last year, according to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi).
Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group firm Reliance Mutual Fund retains its position as the country's largest fund house having assets of over Rs 48,000 crore (Rs 480 billion).
'The net inflows into MF schemes may also have been lower last month, with investors booking profit and taking a more measured approach amid elevated valuations.'
Mutual fund assets surged 23 per cent or over Rs 12 lakh crore year-on-year to reach a record of Rs 65.74 lakh crore in FY25, propelled by robust net inflows and mark-to-market gains amid buoyant equity and debt markets.
'Indian markets may underperform global peers for the next two quarters.' 'But beyond that, India should catch up and resume its long-term growth path.'
Ask rediffGURU and PF expert Nitin Narkhede your mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
Ask rediffGURU and PF and MF expert Janak Patel your mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
'Stopping now would defeat the core purpose of an SIP, which is to average out the purchase cost over market cycles.'
Domestic institutional investors (DIIs), mostly mutual funds and insurance companies, overtook foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) in ownership of NSE-listed companies in the March quarter of 2025. According to Prime Database, DIIs held a 17.62 per cent stake, up from 16.89 per cent in the December 2024 quarter.
New investors should avoid short-term, tactical entries and instead go for staggered buying via ETFs to manage volatility.
Equity mutual funds witnessed an inflow of Rs 35,943 crore in November, marking a drop of 14 per cent on a month-on-month basis, amid heightened volatility in stock markets driven by various macroeconomic factors, geopolitical events and US election results. Despite this, it marked the 45th consecutive month of net inflows into equity-oriented funds, reflecting the growing popularity of mutual funds among investors, according to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) released on Tuesday.
Conservative industry estimates place the cash component of mutual fund houses at Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250 billion). Fund houses had up to 15 per cent in cash, as per the April 30 figures. The cash component exceeded 15 per cent in as many as 30 diversified equity growth funds.
'Trading without strict position sizing, stop-loss discipline, or a clear exit plan almost guarantees losses.' 'Chasing tips, reacting to intraday noise, or assuming frequent trading improves outcomes are equally damaging habits.'
'In a volatile global market, India is pursuing a low-risk, low-return policy, akin to a SIP -- slow, steady investment.' 'Pakistan is following a high-risk, high-return policy.'
Since November 2022, sectoral, midcap, and smallcap funds have collectively added nearly 39 million folios, which is 65 per cent of the total additions to equity funds over the past two years.
Paytm's parent company One97 Communications president and chief operating officer Bhavesh Gupta has resigned from the company, an official statement said on Saturday. As part of a change in leadership structure, fintech firm Paytm has appointed Rakesh Singh as chief executive officer of Paytm Money.
Though the sum was nowhere close to the big-ticket monthly purchases seen during the 2004-2008 bull run, it is significant, as it confirms the reversal of a selling spree that began in September 2013.
This exercise allows investors to realign their portfolios with changing market conditions and evolving personal objectives.
The recent correction suggests that while precious metals hedge geopolitical tension and inflation, they are not immune to sharp short-term corrections and profit-booking.
If the conflict continues for a prolonged period, State-run oil companies may have to review retail fuel prices accordingly.
Investors must account for currency depreciation in their financial plans and use instruments that can cushion the erosion in purchasing power.
